Bottle-cleaner.



E. WAGNER.

BOTTLE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1905.

1,041,532. Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

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M Bw awm E. WAGNER.

BOTTLE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1905.

Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

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E. WAGNER.

R E N A E L G E L T T 0 B Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

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E. WAGNER.

BOTTLE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1905.

1,041,532. Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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E. WAGNER.

BOTTLE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21,1905.

1,041,532, Patented Oct/15,1912.

6 SHEET-SHEET 6.

l HIM man s'rnrns r orrc EDWARD WAGNER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORTO THE MODEL BOTTLING- MACHINERY COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ACORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

BOTTLE-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

Application filed July 21, 1905. Serial No. 270,616.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD WAGNER, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Cleaners, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for cleansing bottles, jars, andsimilar articles, and particularly to that form thereof in whichcleansing fluid consisting preferably of a lye solution, or the like, isinjected under pressure into the inside of the bottle, after which thebottle is rinsed internally by clear Water, similarly injected. Duringthe aforesaid operations, the bottle is, also, subjected externally tothe action of the cleansing solution, and later to the rinsing fluid,but not under pressure.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, inwhich like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur,Figure 1 is a partial side elevation; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectionalview on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33,Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, through thenozzles, the cylinder which carries same, and the cylinder valve, and,also, shows one end wall of the cylinder valve from an interior view;Fig. 5 is a detail on an enlarged scale, showing the relative engagementof the nozzles and resilient bottle supports; Fig. 6 is a verticalsectional view on the line 66, Fig. 7; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of theend of the machine opposite the driving mechanism; Fig. 8 is a detail ofthe valvelock; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a bottle-cleansingmachine, such as that illus trated in detail in the preceding figures,arranged with a suitable pump (shown conventionally), supply and drainpipes, and a reservoir for the cleansing fluid; Fig. 10 is a detail,showing the relation of the nozzles to the resilient strips, and theposition of a bottle thereupon; Fig. 11 illustrates a modified form ofthe construction of said strips in top plan view; and Fig. 12illustrates the same in section.

The tank 1 may be constructed of wood or metal, or it may be formed ofglass in order to avoid the corroding effect of the strong cleansingsolution which is used in cleaning the bottles. This cleansing fluidusually consists of a solution of lye, but any other suitable agent maybe employed. The tank may be elevated above the floor upon blocks 2. Thetank is approximately rectangular in form. hen made of wood or metal itis preferably strengthened at its corners by U-shaped angle-irons 3riveted to its end and side walls, and extending along its floor and upto the top of its said walls. A drain pipe 3 allows of the exit of fluidfrom said tank. The strainer 4:, composed of reticulated material,extends from end to end of the tank running obliquely from one wall tothe floor of the tank, so as to cover the mouth of the drain pipe 3, asshown in Fig. 3, in order to prevent labels which have been soaked offthe bottles during the operation of washing fro-m floating into andclogging the drain pipe.

The bottle-carrier consists of a revoluble cylinder 5, within which issituated the cylinder valve 6, containing the longitudinal slot 7throughout the greater part of its length, same being interrupted onlyby the strengthening and bracing ribs 8 which run entirely around theinside of the Walls of the cylinder 6. A plurality of threaded openingsin the periphery of the bottle-carrier 5 allows the insertion thereintoof a plurality of nozzles 9, which are threaded at the end inserted intothe openings 9, so as to be held therein both rigidly and securely. Thesaid nozzles 9 are inserted into the necks of bottles 10, and the latterare, thereby held upon the bottle-carrier 5 and carried through theoperations hereinafter to be described in the various positionsillustrat-ively shown in Fig. 3. The outer end of the nozzles 9 contains a bushing-cap or plug 11, the perforations 12 allowing theejection of the fluid from the nozzle with considerable force into thebottle carried by said nozzle.

The cylinder 5 is provided with a plurality of circumferential ribs 13,the openings 9 for the nozzles 9 being located in the grooves orchannels 1 1 between same. Resilient strips 15, preferably of metal, runlongitudinally from one end of the cylinder 5 to the other, resting uponall of said ribs 13, and being located one between each two longitudinalrows of nozzles, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 10. Said longitudinalresilient strips 15 are held in their several positions bycircumferential split bands 16 intended to revolve around same.

(of which there may be a number, as shown in Fig. 1), which are boltedtogether by the .bolt 17, and tightly clamp the resilient strips 15 uponthe ribs 13. The strips 15 are located near enough to the longitudinalrows of bottles on each side of same to afford a resilient cushion foreach bottle as it is .slipped over the nozzle which is to carry same, sothat it can be allowed to slide down upon said nozzle without particularcare, and without fear or danger of chipping its mouth. The position ofeach bottle on its respective nozzle 9 when resting on the strips 15 isshown in Fig. 10.

The cylinder valve 6 is normally stationary while the bottle-carryingcylinder 5 is The slot 7 of the valve 6 is normally stationary in theupper arc of the circumference of said valve, and in the path ofrotation of the nozzles 9 as borne by said bottle-carrier 5, beingclearly shown in Fig. 4. The slot 7 may be of any desired dimensions,but in the drawings is shown as extending the 'full length of the valve6, and sufliciently so as to be open from one end to the other and toall the nozzles IIlOHIltGd upon the bottle- ,carrier 5. This slot 7 is,also, illustrated as embracing in width three of the longitudinal rowsof nozzles, although in this respect, also, its dimensions may bevaried.

If desired, however, the ribs 8 can be placed .19 from the supply pipe20, the supply pipe leading from, for instance, the pump 21 (see Fig.9). The shaft 18 at one end of the machine is mounted in the bearing 22borne by the bracket 23 which projects from the end wall of the tank 1,being provided with the packing-gland 24 and held by the .pillow-block25. At the other end of the 55 machine, the shaft 18 is mounted in thebearing 26 borne by the bracket 27 projecting from the other end wall ofthe tank 1, being there provided with the packing, gland'28, andretained by the pillow-block 29. At this end of the machine, the shaft18 is hollow as well as at the other end,- but at this end it is hollownot for the inlet of the cleansing fiuid from the supply pipe, but forthe reception of a shaft 30 attached to the end wall 31 of the valve 6by the key 32, said shaft 30 passing through an opening 33 in the shaft18, and being provided with a packing-gland 34, and having its outermostend squared, as at 35. Adjacent to the squared end 35, a disk 36 iskeyed at 37 to the shaft 30, said disk being provided with a pluralityof perforations 38, the perforations 38 in the lower arc thereof beingadjacent to the outer portion of a yoke 39 which is fastened at 40 tothe end wall of the tank. The yoke 39 is provided with a perforation 41through which a pin 42 can be inserted after having passed through thelowermost of the perforations 38 in the disk 36 whereby the shaft 30,and with it the valve 6, will be locked in any desired position,normally that shown, for instance, in Fig. 4. If it is desired, however,to revolve the cylinder valve 6 so that the slot 7 shall occupy anyother position, the pin 42 may be withdrawn, which will leave the disk36 free to revolve, and, by application of a wrench to the squared end35 of the shaft 30, the valve 6 may be caused to revolve until the slot7 opens in any desired direction.

Motion is imparted to the cylinder 5 or bottle-carrier by the large wormwheel 43 which is keyed thereto at 44, and which meshes wit-h the worm45 upon the shaft 46 rotated by the gear 47 meshing with the pinion 48mounted on the shaft 49 bearing the band-wheel 50. The shafts 46 and 49are mounted in bearings 51 supported by the bracket 52 extending outfrom one of the end walls of the tank.

Within the tank 1 fiat curved rails 53, approximately semicircular inform in their longitudinal side elevation in that portion which iswithin the tank, act as guides or supports for the bottles in theirtravel through the lower half of their circuit, there being one suchrail for each circumferential row of bottles borne by the bottle-carrier5. The object of these rails 53 is to prevent the bottles from slippingoff their respective nozzles when they arrive at and while going throughthe lower half of their revolution, that is to say, in their travelthrough the soaking solution in the tank. In the upper arc of theirtravel there is no danger of their thus slipping off the nozzles becauseof the inverted position which they then occupy. Other suitable meansthan these rails 53 may be employed. It is my preference, however, touse rails somewhat like the rails 53 illustratedand described herein forconvenience in getting rid of broken bottles. Thus, if a bottle having aflaw in it should go to pieces in the lower arc of rotation, it mightpossibly tend to impede or jam the operation of the machine. By reasonof the loose arrangement of the rails 53, hereinafter to be described,each individual rail 53 can be shaken or slightly lifted, at first oneof its shaking longitudinal edges, and then the other, until thefragments of such a bottle are shaken off. of it and drop into the tankbelow. At one side of the tank, these rails 53 terminate in straightportions 54 by which bolts 55 attach strips or rails 53 to angle-irons55 riveted to the side walls of the tank. It will be observed that thenuts on bolts 55 do not bind the rails 53 tightly to angleirons 55 butallow play for the rocking or of the rails 53 justdescribed. At theother side of the tank, the rails 53 terminate in similar straightportions 54, but

' beyond same '(as shown in Fig. 3) an additional depending portion 56is formed partly to serve as a handle for the shaking or rocking towhich reference has been made. In order that the rails 53 may be unitedtogether to form a frame for purposes of adjustment, as hereinafterdescribed, all the depending portions 56 of the rails 53 are connectedtogether by straps 57 and 58 (as shown in Figs. 1 and 3), the bolts 59,60, 61, 62, etc., passing through strap 58, depending portions 56, andstrap 57 (as shown in Fig. 3). The straight portions 54 of the rails at1 the end which has the depending terminations 56 rest upon theangle-iron 63 riveted to the side wall of the tank, and through eachpasses a bolt 64 which also passes through strip 64*. 3 Each of thestraight portions 54 of the strip 53 at this side of the tank isattached to the angle-iron 63 by a :bolt 65, the head of which iscountersunk in the the bolts 65 allows of the rocking or shaking part54. 'The location of the nuts 66 on movement of the rails 53hereinbefore described, and also of a vertical movement of all the rails53 and strip 64 the nut 67 and Washer 68 forming a shoulder againstwhich the helical spring 69 on each bolt'64 abuts.

The nuts 70 on the bolts 55 at the other side of the tank allow for thesame movement as the nuts 66 on the bolts 65. When, for instance, pintbottles are borne bythe bottlecarrier 5, the portions 56 and straightportions 54 force the strip 64 upwardly and elevate each of the rails 53so as to accommodate said rails to the shorter length of pint bottles,the left-hand ends of the rails 53 in Fig. 3 being somewhat loose, and,therefore,

"adjustable, and the rising of the straight portions 54 at theright-hand end ofthe rails 53 diminishing the arc of the circledescribed by said rails 53, and causing all portions thereof to approachcloser to the nozzles 9. When, however, quart bottles'are being washed,they travel on the rails 53 in their lowest posit-ion through the'bath.The upper abutment for springs 69 is the horizontal portion ofangle-iron 63. When pints are being washed, the strips 57 and 58 must beheld in an elevated" position by means not shown, thesprings 69 beingthen extended.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Motion is imparted to theband-wheel 50, which, by means of shaft 49, rotates the pinion 48, andthat, by meshing with gear 47, causes the Worm 45 on shaft 46 to rotate.The gear 43 meshing with the worm 45 revolves its shaft 18, and therebyrotary motion is imparted to the bottle-carrier 5. The bottles 10 areslipped over the nozzles 9 and form a plurality of longitudinal, and aplurality of circumferential, rows of bottles upon the bottle-carrier 5.The pump 21 is started and draws the cleansing solution from thereservoir 71 through a pipe 72 controlled by valve 73 and forces thesame through supply pipe 20 through the hollow shaft 18 and the opening74 in one end wall of the valve 6 into the interior of saidvalvecylinder, openings through the ribs 8 allowing of the passage ofthe fluid therethrough. With the rotation of the bottle-carrier 5 on itsaxis, each longitudinal row of nozzles 9 and bottles 10 borne thereby issuccessively brought opposite the slot 7, whereupon the cleansing fluidwithin the cylinder 6 is forced out through said slot 7 into the nozzles9 and into the interior of the bottles 10, effectually cleansing same.It will be observed that in this position the nozzles 9 do position ithas assumed by the action of gravity, the bottles diametrically oppositein the lower arc of rotation of same having slipped as far off theirrespective nozzles as possible, and being retained on the nozzles onlyby the fact that they travel on the rails 53 through the lower half oftheir IGVOlll'. tion. When each bottle rises slightly above thehorizontal position, when it reaches the upper half of its path ofrotation, it begins to slip toward the bottle-carrier 5 on its nozzle 9,and when gravity has caused it to move as far as possible toward thecenter, the mouth of each bottle encircling a nozzle 9' rests upon thetwo resilient strips 15 which runalong each side of the nozzle on whichit is borne. Its position with relation to the strips 15 is clearlyshown in Fig. 10. From Figs. 2, 5, 6, and 10, it will be evident thatwhen the mouth of a bottle rests upon a pair of strips 15, ample spaceis left for the fluid, which is injected by the nozzle, to escape fromthe bottle around the nozzle, and, by means of the channels 14, into themain body of the tank. It will there preferably be allowed to stand, sothat the bottles may be externally soaked as they pass on rails 53through the. lower half of their revolution. Unless the bottle-washer isused as one of a series or bank, as herein after described, the cock 85controlling the drain pipe 3 may be opened when the cleansing isconcluded, and the cleansing fluid allowed to run back into thereservoir 71.

After the bottles have been revolved the desired number of times (one ormore, as the case may require) past the slot 7 of the valve 6, andthrough the fluid contained in the tank 1, and after the cleansing fluidhas been drained or pumped therefrom, a supply of clear water forrinsing the bottles is then drawn from pipe 89, which leads from anysuitable source of supply (not shown), valve 88 controlling said pipe,and is injected into same under the pressure of the pump 21, forcingsame through the supply pipe 20, hollow cylinder 18, valve 6, andnozzles 9. After the rinsing has been accomplished, the rinsing water isallowed to waste, which may be by running out through the drain pipe 3and a branch pipe 98, entrance to the reservoir 71 in this instancebeing prevented by a cook 85. The arrangement just suggested would beused only when a single bottle washer alone is operated.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 of the means forpreventing the chipping of the bottle mouth when it slides down upon thenozzle 9, and also for holding the bottle mouth sufficiently above thecylindrical wall of the bottle-carrier 5 to allow the liquid to flow outof the bottle after being injected thereinto through the nozzle 9, aplurality of longitudinal slats or ribs 100 are mounted upon thecylinder 5, said ribs 100 having greater thickness at that part whichadjoins the cylinder 5 than at their highest portion, 2'. 6., the partfarthest removed from the cylinder In the drawings I have shown theseslats in the shape of a truncated wedge, the sides 101 thereof beingoblique in cross-section. This allows the bottle mouth to fit into thespace between two of said adjoining ribs 100 in the position clearlyshown in Fig. 12, and leaves the space or channel 102 through which theliquid may make its escape. As the ribs 100 are formed of wood orsimilar material not so hard as the steel of the cylinder 5, thebottle-mouths are not chipped when they impact upon same. At their ends,the ribs 100 are cut down so as to have a projection on each end. A handring 103 encircling all of said reduced portions of the ribs 100 acts asa clamp to hold same upon the cylinder 5 and in their proper position.

In order to retain the heat of the cleansing liquids when same areinjected warm or hot, a cover 104 counterbalanced by weights 105 may behung from shafts 106 so as to be raised or lowered as may be desired,same being illustrated in the lowered position in Figs. 3 and 9.

2. In a machine of the type set forth, a-

cylindrical bottle-carrier having a plurality of circumferential ribs, aplurality of longitudinal resilient strips in engagement with said ribs,and a plurality of bottle-supports adapted to hold bottles adjacent tosaid strips.

3. In a machine of the type set forth, a cylindrical bottle carrierformed with a plurality of circumferential ribs providing channelsbetweeneach pair, a plurality of resilient strips running at rightangles to said ribs, and a plurality of bottle-supports adapted to holdbottles adjacent to said strips.

cylindrical bottle carrier having a plurality of circumferential ribs,there being a channel between each pair of said ribs, nozzlebottle-supports arranged in rows projecting out of said channels, andlongitudinal resilient strips running bet-ween each pair of longitudinalrows of bottles.

5. In a machine of the type set forth, a cylindrical bottle carrierhaving a plurality of circumferential ribs, a plurality of longitudinalstrips engaging said ribs, means for binding said strips to said ribs,and a plurality of bottle-supports adapted to hold bottles adjacent tosaid strips.

6. In a machine of the character described, a movable bottle-carrierprovided with a plurality of projecting bot-tlesupports and resilientstrips mounted thereon to prevent chipping of the bottle-mouths whilebeing mounted or sliding on said supports by direct and suddenengagement or impact upon said bottle-carrier.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of arevoluble bottle-carrier having bottle supports on which the bottles areloosely mounted and means for supporting the individual bottles on theirsupports during the lower portion of their revolution, said supportingmeans comprising a plurality of rails passing underneath said bottles,each of said rails terminating at each end in a straight port-ion, eachof said straight portions being loosely fastened to the side walls ofthe tank, and

'. 4. In a machine of the type set forth, a

said straight portions on at least one side terminating in furtherextensions, said extensions being united together adjacent their ends.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of arevoluble bottle-carrier having bottle supports on which the bottles areloosely mounted and means for supporting the individual blottles ontheir supports during the lower portion of their revolution, saidsupporting means comprising a plurality of rails passing underneath saidbottles, each of said rails terminating at each end in a straightportion, each of said straight portions being loosely fastened to theside walls of the tank, and said straight portions on at least one sideterminating in further extensions, said extensions being united togetheradjacent their ends, there being a member above said straight portionsadapted under spring pressure to hold same normally in their lowestposition.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair ofcylinders, the outer one forming a bottle-carrier and being providedwith a plurality of tubular bottle-supports, and the inner one forming avalve communicating with a sup ply pipe, said valve-cylinder having thevalve opening therein arranged normally to allow the discharge of fluidin only one direction, and means for locking said valve in saiddischarge position.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pairof cylinders, the outer one forming a bottle-carrier and being providedwith a plurality of tubular bottle-supports, and the inner one forming avalve communicating with a supply pipe, said valve-oylinder having thevalve opening therein arranged normally to allow the discharge of fluidin only one direction, means for locking said valve in said dischargeposition and for unlocking same therefrom, and means connected with saidvalve for changing the position of said discharge opening.

11. The combination, in a machine ofthe character described, of atubular support adapted to be connected to a fluid supply pipe andprovided with an elongated discharge orifice, a cylinder revolublymounted on said support and provided with a plurality of tubular bottleholders normally closed by the wall of said support but havingcommunication with the interior thereof when presented to said orificeduring the revolution of said cylinder, means for revolving saidcylinder, and means for turn ing the support upon its longitudinal axis,to vary the position of said orifice.

12. The combination, in a machine of the character described, of atubular support adapted to be connected to a fiuid supply pipe andprovided with an elongated discharge orifice, a cylinder revolublymounted on said support and provided with a plurality of tubular bottleholders normally closed by the wall of said support but havingcommunication with the interior thereof when presented to said orificeduring the revolution of said cylinder, means for revolving saidcylinder, means for turning the support upon its longitudinal axis, tovary the position of said orifice, and means for locking said support inadjusted position.

13. The combination, in a machine of the character described, of atubular support adapted to be connected to a fluid supply pipe andprovided with an elongated discharge orifice, a tubular member revolublymounted on said support and provided with a plurality of circumferentialrows of tubular bottle holders normally closed by the wall of saidsupport but having communication with the interior thereof whenpresented to said orifice during the revolution of said member, meansfor revolving said member, and a series of movable supports arrangedbeneath said member for retaining the bottles thereon during the lowerportion of their revolution, said supports being adapted to be rocked todislodge fragments of broken bottles therefrom.

14. The combination, in a machine of the character described, of atubular support adapted to be connected to a fluid supply pipe andprovided with a discharge orifice, a cylinder revolubly mounted thereonand provided with a plurality of tubular holders adapted to looselyreceive bottles, said holders being normally closed by the wall of saidsupport but having communication with the interior thereof whenpresented to said orifice during the revolution of said cylinder, meansfor revolving said cylinder, and resilient strips mounted upon saidcylinder adjacent said holders to prevent chipping of the bottle mouthsduring the movements of the bottles thereon by impact upon saidcylinder.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of arevoluble bottle carrier provided with a plurality of projecting bottleholders, resilient strips: mounted on the carrier adjacent said holdersfor preventing chipping of the bottle mouths during the movements of thebottles thereon by impact upon said carrier, and movable supportsarranged beneath said carrier for retaining the bottles thereon duringthe lower portion of their revolution, said supports being adapted to berocked to dislodge fragments of broken bottles therefrom.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination of arevoluble bottle carrier provided with a plurality of projecting bottleholders, resilient strips mounted on the carrier adjacent said holdersfor preyenting chipping of the bottle mouths durmg'the movements of thebottles thereon by impact upon said carrier, and supports 7 arrangedbeneath said carrier and parallel with said holders for retaining thebottles thereon during the lower portion of their revolution.

17. In a bottle cleaning machine, a hollow cylinder rovided with acontinuous dis charge orifice which is coextensive with the longitudinalaxis of saidcylinder, a bottle carrier revolubly mounted on the cylinder1 and provided with longitudinal rows of radially-projecting tubesadapted to extend the bottles, means for re- 1 volving the carrier, saiddischarge orifice of into the mouths 0 EDWARD WAGNER.

Witnesses:

M. E. JoHNsoN, GLADYS WALTON.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

